Booman Tribune ~ A Progressive Community

The Real Palin Problem

by BooMan
Sat Oct 11th, 2008 at 10:15:54 AM EST

In the annals of government abuse of power, Sarah Palin's sins are minor. On a human level, her infatuation with getting her ex-brother-in-law fired is even understandable. But that doesn't mean that Sarah Palin and her husband acted in a legal or ethical manner.

As governor, she was within her rights to fire the public safety commissioner, but it isn't the decision to fire him that is most troubling. The troubling history here is that she and her husband repeatedly encouraged government employees to act in an unethical manner. Over and over again, their underlings had to remind them about privacy laws and standard procedures and conflicts of interest. Think of it as somewhat akin to Dick Cheney and Scooter Libby's pre-war visits to the CIA, where they applied subtle, but unethical, pressure on analysts to provide the answers they wanted to hear. Pressuring an analyst to provide false analysis is pressuring them to violate their code of ethics.

On top of this, Sarah Palin brazenly lied to the people of Alaska and the state legislature about their role in Troopergate.

John McCain should have vetted his running-mate. I don't think the people are in the mood for another eight years with a vice-president that doesn't understand ethics or have a decent respect for the truth and the law.

The Real Palin Problem | 8 comments (8 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

The people of Alaska... (3.67 / 3)

seem to have little regard for honest, ethical politicians.

Ted Stevens is exhibit A.

Speaking of dishonest and unethical, did you see Colin Powell's enthusiastic character reference for Stevens?

(AP) Former Secretary of State Colin Powell on Friday praised Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens' sense of honor at his trial on corruption charges, calling his reputation for honesty and integrity "sterling" in the quarter-century they've known each other.
"As we say in the infantry, this is a guy you take on a long patrol," said the retired four-star Army general and former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

by Ed J on Sat Oct 11th, 2008 at 10:48:01 AM EST

Re: The people of Alaska... (none / 0)

A character reference from liar-turned-whiner Colin Powell isn't worth much.

by Hurria (Muslawia@gmail.com) on Sat Oct 11th, 2008 at 02:31:26 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Real Palin Problem (none / 1)

Stick a fork in McCain/Palin. They are soooo done. On the same night MSNBC was reporting about McCain stomping on his own literal-minded, moronic base, Palin is exposed as a lying, vengeful violator of the public trust. Oh HA! HA! HA!

by sjct on Sat Oct 11th, 2008 at 10:47:04 AM EST

Re: The Real Palin Problem (none / 0)

An honest question: Does Palin being found guilty of unlawful and unethical conduct really matter with her base? Will it sway many undecided? Or is what she did more or less par for the course amongst Palin/McCain voters? Do only libruls get worked up about this sort of thing?

(In Europe it would probably disqualify you from office in most countries, but I really don't know if similar attitudes prevail in the US)

"We reported back to hearts what we had seen, and told our footsteps all about where we had been."

by Frank Schnittger (Frankschnittger at hotmail dotty communists) on Sat Oct 11th, 2008 at 11:04:53 AM EST

Re: The Real Palin Problem (4.00 / 2)

This is a country that tolerates a leader with a 25% approval rating for two-straight years as he runs our economy into a ditch. We're pretty tolerant of incompetence and unethical behavior.

by BooMan on Sat Oct 11th, 2008 at 11:13:01 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Real Palin Problem (none / 0)

Unpopularity and incompetence we too can do in spades. But unlawful behaviour is a different issues entirely - or is that distinction lost in US political culture?

How much has troopergate been headlined in the US newscycle? Is it a one day wonder to be forgotten about, or will it have swayed 1% of undecideds?

"We reported back to hearts what we had seen, and told our footsteps all about where we had been."

by Frank Schnittger (Frankschnittger at hotmail dotty communists) on Sun Oct 12th, 2008 at 06:33:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Real Palin Problem (4.00 / 2)

Abuse of power is a badge of honor. Look at BushCheney before them, Reagan and Nixon.

Well, "You can't vote for war and disown the results"

by idredit on Sat Oct 11th, 2008 at 11:19:46 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Real Palin Problem (none / 1)

We're not going to be rid of this woman. Whatever the people of Alaska decide to do about her as governor, she's gotten her big break onto the national stage, and even after she and McCain lose, she's going to take her sense of grievance and milk it with the vengeful proto-fascist crowds who have been unleashed by this unhinged rhetoric. She'll be back, unfortunately.

by Delia on Sat Oct 11th, 2008 at 03:38:04 PM EST

The Real Palin Problem | 8 comments (8 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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